Kia has far surpassed expectations in a relatively short time frame, shifting from a producer of poorly designed, poorly built econo-boxes to well-made, adventurously styled cars that square off with practical Asian stalwarts like Honda and Toyota. Recently they set their sights on the European luxury market with their 2015 Kia K900 ($59,500 base). We grabbed some seat time in a powerful, VIP-trimmed $65,000 Kia to decide for ourselves if it was worth the price tag -- and to decide if the Germans should feel threatened by this Asian invasion.

If you lament the death of old-school design -- the kind that makes timeless cars like the Ferrari 265 GTB/4, the Jaguar E-Type and the Aston Martin DB5 so iconic -- then you'll rejoice over the new David Brown Automotive Speedback. Recently unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, the Speedback is a throwback to simpler times with the benefit of modern underpinnings and technology. The niche British carmaker (so niche that it has one model and no factory yet) has made its debut baby an absolute stunner.

Concept cars, by definition, push the limits of automotive invention. But even in a field of enigmas and paradigm shifters there can be standouts, vehicles that make competitors look like toys. This is the realm of the new Audi Quattro Concept Mini, which calls to mind an R8 V10 Spyder designed by a Lilliputian Frank Lloyd Wright. It's whole-heartedly future-thinking in its indoctrination of a new and entirely untapped target market. Watch the video for our review.

Though most of us may drive sensible cars, deep inside we crave more. More power, more bravado, more speed in the form of a truly brash automobile. Check out our scientific diagram and follow the path to the wheeled monster that best expresses who you are in that pulsing animal heart of yours.

If those with little personality and no detectable level of driving skill get their way, the Google Autonomous Car will be the most welcomed news of their humdrum adult lives. Sure, it has a place in the automotive landscape, mitigating traffic and hopefully decreasing the number of accidents, but it also excites us as much as a bowl of Grape Nuts and skim milk. On the other hand, it's the cars that don't make complete sense whose windows we're fogging with our hot, lusty breaths. We're after chutzpah, brazen performance, design, technology or all of the above. Here's why.

The Continental name has been a part of the Bentley family since the early 1950s. Though the 2014 Bentley New Continental GTC V8 S ($216,000) remains relatively unchanged in its iconic style and interior club room feel (which rivals a rich mahogany office), what's under the skin of this Monaco Yellow grand touring torpedo sets it apart from previous generations.

The Porsche 918, the McLaren P1 and the Ferrari LaFerrari are still all about superlatives -- fastest, best handling, most exotic. But they also repurpose the latest technology to maximize the "dear lord" factor. They're redefining excess, not stamping it out.

In its past several generations, Mercedes-Benz's C-Class has promised drivers excellent entry-level luxury -- a promise on which the car has never quite delivered. GP editor Eric Yang travels to the South of France to find the soul of the new C-Class using his right foot.

The Subaru Impreza WRX (nicknamed "Rex" by loyalists) has a cult following to almost rival the Beatles (smaller and younger, but just as fanatic). New iterations or improvements often make fan clubs and enthusiasts both skeptical and nervous; you can't mess with perfection, and the Subaru Impreza WRX is pretty close. In November of last year Subaru debuted the fifth generation 2015 WRX ($26,295) at the LA auto show, and we were quick to and hop in line to see if they'd truly made it better or simply messed up a great thing.

For decades, the BMW 3-Series has been the sports sedan benchmark by which all others are measured, but all that is changing in this steel cage death match that includes German, Japanese and American contenders. BMW, naturally, has its hat in the ring. Then there's the Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C Class, Lexus IS, Infiniti Q50, Cadillac ATS, and soon a new Jaguar known as the XE, which was recently announced but not fully revealed at the Geneva Motor Show.

Watching concept cars bow at international auto shows is like watching the festivities at Paris Fashion Week: displays are daring, beautiful and sometimes just downright petrifying. The world gets to see bold, shocking statements or captivating ones that might just make it to market. The best examples are fuel for dreams of what may come. This year, the Geneva Motor Show proved to be fertile ground. From a student-submitted sports car to a practical van, here are our 10 favorite concept cars from the show.

When Jaguar introduced their iconic E-Type in the early 1960s it turned heads and changed lives; new for 2014, the Jaguar F-Type ($69,000) looks to do exactly the same thing. First coming to life as the C-X16 concept, the production version debuted at the historic Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2012 and, thanks to thrilling driving dynamics and a competitive price point, could be the most exciting offering from the Brits (under Indian ownership) since the tea trade routes.

The Volvo station wagon has returned, and it's called the 2015 Volvo V60 Sportswagon ($35,300). Ours was a bodacious blue; they're all turbo, five doors deep, and, as Volvo puts it, about both work and play.

America, as a whole, hates station wagons. But instead of despising the wood paneling, the center-of-gravity elevating roof loads and the smell of cheap vinyl seats, we should be clinging to every bit of wagon-dom that we can -- who knows how much longer they'll be around? Fortunately for history's sake, they've made their mark in a handful of great movies and TV shows, not just as family haulers but as quick and capable chase vehicles and hero (and antihero) steeds of choice.

As great as Volvo's first two concept cars (the Concept Coupe and the Concept XC Coupe) were, it's the Volvo Concept Estate that's got us giddy with "build it" fever. About to unveil at the Geneva Motor Show, the Concept Estate is essentially the shooting brake (two-door wagon) version of the Concept Coupe, bettered by the addition of a big rear door. Plus, it appears to be as beautiful under the skin as it is on the outside.

As much as I'd love to press my garage door opener and find a wickedly fast Audi A6 Avant 3.0 TDI bi-turbo or Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S 4Matic Wagon waiting within, the real wagon of my dreams might actually be even more difficult to come by and definitely moves at geologic speed compared to the aforementioned family rocket sleds. It's a true driver's car that just happens to be an iconic station wagon, too: the Volvo 240 GLT Turbo Wagon.

Packed with the same kind of rip-roaring five-door flavor as the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S 4Matic Wagon and the Audi RS6 Avant, Jaguar's XFR-S Sportbrake does up the wicked and track-ready XFR-S sedan with more cargo space and a nice big rear door for all those Home Depot runs.

No longer just a lame substitute for a real SUV, crossovers have grown in terms of quality, capability and available amenities such that there seems virtually no end in sight. Mercedes-Benz has been busier than just about anyone lately when it comes to redesigning their lineup and introducing new models, and the GLA Class is the latest to come down the Teutonic pike to fill this new crossover mold. We made our way to Málaga, Spain to take two iterations out for a spin: the GLA250 4Matic and the zippier GLA45 AMG.

With a long history of producing rugged SUVs before that term even existed, Land Rover could sell incredibly well based on just their name. Still, they decided the all-new aluminum-bodied flagship Range Rover wasn't enough. They've spiffed up their biggest seller, the Range Rover Sport, and we had the chance to drive it through one of Chicago's snowiest winters see how it performed off the clean tarmac.

It's no longer enough for a big SUV to transport seven; it has to look good and feel good (for both driver and passengers) while doing it. Our intrepid Octane crew drove five of the best seven-passenger SUVs out there and found a flavor for just about anyone. While none of these five SUVs are perfect, each is grand in its own right by virtue of style, quality and utility.

For the fortunate few who need to do serious work in a serious world (or for those with big amounts of extra coin laying around), there are two serious players at opposite ends of the cost spectrum: the Mercedes-Benz Unimog U5000 and the Bremach T-Rex. Whether it's off-road adventure, payload hauling or search and rescue, both mean business.

Some modern motorcycle manufacturers -- some of the best, in fact -- have designed and built bikes that harken back to timeless style. Though we don't recommend that you get out there with a flimsy leather helmet and goggles, we do strongly urge you to invest in the right gear and then hit the road on any of these five fantastic vintage-style motorcycles, looking damn good while you do it.

The right helmet makes a world of difference in both comfort and protection. Upgrading your headwear at least every five years ensures you're equipped with the latest in technology and safety innovations; it also instills instant rider confidence. Here are the best motorcycle helmets on the market today.

Limited in production but not in power, the Ducati Panigale 1199 R ($31,000) is a cross between a Navy Seal and Usain Bolt. It's got carbon fiber and titanium for bones, a computer for a brain and a 195-horsepower engine revving to 12,000 rpm for a heart. We took it out for a few days -- after we updated our will.

The best way to appreciate NASCAR is not by cracking a Bud and plopping on the couch but by getting in the driver’s seat. Unfortunately that's a pipe dream for most -- but when PEAK Motor Oil invited me to their Stock Car Dream Challenge as they searched for a future driver for the Michael Waltrip Race team, I grabbed my helmet and Nomex onesie and streamed Garth Brooks/Chris Gaines all the way to Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Most drivers, including Porsche owners, spend little time at the ragged fringe of control. Daydreams of record-time morning commutes are one thing, but precise, high-speed driving is rarified air for most. Porsche has a solution: driving school. At Porsche Sport Driving School you won't come away with points off your license or a lower insurance rate. Instead, you get a crash-course in precise driving at high speeds.

Becoming a skilled driver is about more than going fast and having the will to beat everyone else. Understanding physics, driving the line well and having hours under your belt in both your vehicle and the track or road on which you'll drive all play key roles in maximizing your abilities. The fastest and most comprehensive way to improve these things? Opening up your mind and your wallet to a reputable driving school. Here are our picks for the five best.

You've set aside a full day to improve your track driving skills, so don't show up wearing a motorcycle half-helmet, a pair of jean shorts and thick-soled running shoes. Track driving is a sport of extreme focus, extreme speeds and extreme temperatures -- and you've got to be fully prepped. Leave anything out and your concentration and skills development will suffer. We put together a track kit that will give you the confidence to nail the apexes like Senna.

Drag racing at its core isn’t a complicated sport. Two cars line up. Their drivers hit the pedal on the right. A thousand or so feet later someone wins. It stands to reason that there must be something more to this sport, something visceral that has kept people interested in pure, unadulterated speed for so long. With that in mind we headed to the first race of professional drag racing’s pro circuit, The NHRA Winternationals at the historic Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California.

Two new and rather unique automobiles prove that dedicated performance for the tarmac doesn't have to come from Europe, Asia or the States: the track-ready Vuhl 05 from Mexico and the angular Felino Cars CB7 from those French-Canadian secessionist wannabes in Montreal, Quebec. Both cars are built for a niche market of drivers who are serious about either driving fast on the track or turning heads -- or likely, both.

Kids love cars and trucks and things that go -- get 'em hooked early and they'll be motorheads for life. Whether you want to start small with miniature die-cast models, build patience with tedious model-building or see how well your offspring hoon, there's a car toy out there that'll fit the bill. We've rounded up ten awesome -- and classic -- car toys that you'd be proud to bestow upon your kid and that he or she will be more than happy to crash pilot.

You can spend as little or as much as you want on a remote-controlled vehicle (you'll see shortly that there are far more than cars available), but what each one delivers is huge fun in a small package -- and, in some cases, the kind of performance that shames the full-sized deal. Here are ten great remote controlled vehicles that are worth your time, your imagination and some of your hard-earned cash. Just be prepared to fight over them with your kids.

One of the most iconic cars the world has ever seen doesn't even exist. It's sleek, has a three-pointed front end, a huge red M emblazoned on the hood, myriad gadgets like saw blades and a periscope and sometimes has a little kid and a crazy chimpanzee in the trunk. It's Speed Racer's Mach 5, and both the car and its super-skinny driver made an indelible impression on me as a boy. More than candy and snow days, I longed for the next episode of Speed Racer with its high drama, fast cars and peril on and off the track.

Waxing your car is actually more important than you think -- especially since it's about far more than just seeing the sun glint off your steed's resplendent paint. Waxing protects your car's paint and body from grime, road salt, moisture, sun damage and other finish-ruining elements. We've broken down the steps for proper waxing. Do it quarterly and you'll keep your car looking as radiant as the day you drove it off the lot.

Winter is prime dead battery territory, and jump-starting during cold weather requires nearly twice as many cranking amps as its t-shirts-and-shorts counterpart. There's also another, more worrisome issue to deal with: regardless of weather, most people go about their jump-starts incorrectly. We'll assume you've been smart enough to keep functioning jumper cables in your trunk and someone has been kind enough to offer their car as a source of juice. With those in place, follow these simple steps to jump start your car correctly.

John Deere's first-ever use of a 839cc V-twin motorcycle engine in a Recreational Utility Vehicle (RUV), a beast that delivers the kind of fun typically reserved for all-out-war paintball melees, says a lot about their intentions. With a top speed of 53 mph (feels more like 100), 4WD, fully independent multi-link suspension, nine inches of wheel travel, 10 inches of ground clearance, Fox racing shocks, and a 400-pound capacity cargo box, the Gator RSX 850i seems eager to go anywhere and do anything. Sounds like a challenge we were born for.

Rule one of motorcycling is to armor yourself from head to toe with the right gear; style comes second, but when done right, it plays its part in your staying in one piece as well. For that extra bit of protection and tasteful flair, we've gathered five great leather moto jackets for the upcoming riding season and paired each with a like-minded beauty of a bike.

2014 promises to offer up a ton of great bikes by which to dispel your winter blues, a handful of those out of the Far East. Japanese motorcycles are well built, reliable and typically more affordable than their counterparts from Italy and America, and they also have a strong history of great performance. From cruisers to sport-tourers to sport bikes, here are our five favorite new Japanese bikes of the year.

We hopped a flight to the deserts of Las Vegas, where early one morning we had our pick of 10 shiny new 2014 Audi RS 7s ($104,900). Over its short tenure, Audi’s A7 Sportback has garnered endless praise and multiple awards, and the sportier S7 has impressed wholeheartedly with its ramped up athleticism and rakish looks. But we were righteously eager that morning in particular because the maniacal RS 7 takes both and soundly trounces them to smithereens.

When Charles Borskey started Sportsmobile in 1961, he had no idea the brand would rise to the popular status it holds today as the ultimate vehicle for adventure camping -- or for simply making drivers look badass. Specializing in converting full-size vans into custom recreational vehicles, Sportsmobile turns your base people hauler into a rugged, rock-luvin' beast. We recently visited Sportsmobile West's Fresno, CA location to see the factory and take a van on the road; the conditions -- snow and ice -- created the perfect playground for these hulking yet nimble beasts.

It's a unique thrill to drive incredible cars on fast tracks and scenic open roads throughout the year. We try to approach each vehicle with a modicum of objectivity, but it's largely an ad hoc exercise -- gunning through tunnels tends to give us tunnel vision. Now we take a step back. With the draw of roaring engines, horsepower and plush cowhides taken out of the immediate picture and hindsight pupils readjusted for perspective, what can we say about our most and least scintillating driving experiences of the past year?

Until now, the vehicles featured in our Octane Icon series have been but singular iterations of automotive excellence -- standout models, limited runs and one-offs that have bucked trends, pumped blood and turned heads. The first motorcycle to be honored in this series defines most of that very criteria. And yet, it is readily available and remains relatively inexpensive: this is the Harley-Davidson XL or, as its more commonly known, the Sportster.